The Hindu : Karnataka News : 11 new prisons to have many features

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 05, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

11 new prisons to have many features

By Raghava M.

BANGALORE, NOV. 4. Eleven new prisons being constructed in the State will have unique features, giving impetus to the ongoing prison reforms.

The prisons coming up at Bagalkot, Chitradurga, Chamarajanagar, Madikeri, Haveri, Udupi and Koppal, and the subjails coming up at Ramanagaram, Chintamani, Tumkur and Sakleshpur, will have facilities such as separate videoconferencing rooms where courts can hear the undertrials, exclusive women's barracks, and separate cells for undertrials and convicts. In addition, the prison premises will house the sessions and criminal courts.

The 11 new prisons with unique structures are part of the Prison Department's project to construct 13 new prisons in phases in five years. The Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation (KSPHC) is constructing them on behalf of the department. In the first phase, it has taken up construction of nine prisons.

The project is included in a Union Government scheme to build extra prisons and repair and improve the facilities in the existing ones. The scheme, which came into effect in 2002-03, is being implemented on a cost-sharing basis; the Centre is putting in 75 per cent (Rs. 40.42 crores) and the State Government the rest (Rs. 13.47 crores).

According to the Chairman and Managing Director of the KSPHC, R. Srikumar, it is building these prisons under the Union Government share of Rs. 40.42 crores. In addition to prisons, the KSPHC is building 384 staff quarters and undertaking a few renovation works. The Centre, he said, has been releasing Rs. 8 crores every year.

One of the features of the new prisons is the exclusive cells for women prisoners. "These cells, though a part of the prison, will be in a barrack, separated from other cells. This barrack will meet the needs of privacy of women." There will be a separate lobby, a guardroom and a kitchen for these women.

Another feature, he said, is the exclusive rooms for videoconferencing. This facility is now used in five central jails for communication between the courts and the prisoners. The number of these rooms in a prison, he said, will depend on its authorised capacity. A separate room is also being provided in each prison for housing the courts.

The new prisons have been designed in such a way that a minimal number of security persons could guard each, Mr. Srikumar said. Separate accommodation is being provided for convicted and undertrial prisoners. The prisons will have modern kitchens, prayer halls and places for exercise. These buildings will be designed to harvest rainwater.

Most of the designs for the new prisons, he said, have been done by KSPHC engineers to suit the requirements of prison officials. For some prisons, they have selected designs of private architects by holding a competition.

The KSPHC, he said, has fully utilised the Rs. 16 crores given by the Union Government for 2002-03 and 2003-04. It is awaiting the money for 2004-05.

The progress of the KSPHC's works, including on the prisons, has been placed on its website www.kshpc.org.

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